Phonograph record



AVA nm BLE; coPY April 5, 1927.

April 5 1927.

, W. C. HDLEY PHONOGRAPH REcoRD Original Filed July 20, 1921 3 Sbeets-Sbeet 2 lNvENToR i Pifaller CTld/ey ATTORNEY April s, 1927.

, W. C. HADLEY PHONOGRAPH RECORD Original Filed Jilly 20, 1921 3 Sheets-5118611 3 INVENTQR 1:' nez/zefcU/a'a//y ATTORNEY 44. SOUND RECORDING .'.IPFIODUCHNG Reissued Apr. 5, 1927.

UNITED STATES Re. 16,588 PATENT OFFICE.

WAL'I'ER C. HADLEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

COLUMBIA PHONOGRAPH COMPANY, INC., BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, .A COR- PORATION OF NEW YORK.

PHONOGRAPH RECORD.

The present nventon relates to phonograph records and more particularly to phonograph records provided with means co-operating With the tone-arm to actuate the brake or stop, Said means, in addition to this braking function, also serves as a silent-groove-endinpr for the record.

As is well known to those skilled in this art, many phonographs are equipped With automatig stops, the one most generally emploved comprising a rigid postprojecting downwardly from the tone-arm in position to engage a trip or movable member1 which in turn operates a brake member. In such devices the movable member .is set or adjusted for each record, such adjustment being determined by swinging the tone-arm inwardly and positioning the 'point of the needle approximately at the end of the reproducing surface on the record, and while the tone-arm is held in this position, the movable member of the automatic stop is set by being placed in contact With the rigid post projecting from the tone-arm. Of course in making this adjustment care must be .taken to position the needle accurately with relation to the end of the reproducing surface of the record, but no matter how much care may be exercised, it is almost impossible to accurately position the end of .the needle so as to effect the operation of the brake and -stop at the desired point, and thus it happens that the stop will bc operated at times before` the end of the record is reached or for such a period thereafter as to produce-a disagreeable scratching of Vthe needle. In such devices also after setting the stop with the exercise of considerable care, the brake member makes a decided jump on the release in starting, thus the set`` oint is advanced a var inn` dis- B Application for reisene Serial No. 28,521.

of parts or otherwise, will cause a variationin the Operation of the stop.

It has been proposed to provide phonograph records with a non-reproducing groove constituting a continuation of the groove of the reproducing surface of the record, such non-reproducing groove being at a different and sharper angle designed to impart a relatively quick movement inward of the need-le and tone-arm and ending in a circular groove where no stop or brak'e`1 is used, but such additional groove has been found to be inefl'ective unless the lines are relatively close together and it isfound' in practice that the needle constantly jumps out of the groove without operating the stop.

The object of the present invention is to provide a phonograph record which may be used on any of the well known phonograph machines provided with an automatic stop, so constructed that it may be possible to accurately set the stop mechamsm to be operated at a definite point and having been once set it may be permanently looked and operate with any recordembodying my invention no matter what the Width of the reproducing surface may he.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a phonograph record with a stop actuating, element so constructed and so positioned that regardless of the area covered by the reproducing` surface, the universal stop will be operated positively and accurately in all such records shortly after the needle passes from the reproducing surface, and so that a plurality of records may be played without the necessity of resetting the stop mechanism after each record.

A further obfiect is to provide a phonograph record with means Whereby the needle after it leaves the reproducing surface 'will be given a relatively quick lateral movement towards the center of the record, thus moving the tone-arm and insuring the Operation of the stop mechanism.

cut

Fig. 1.

Still another, and a very important, object is to provide a phonograph record with means whereby the needle after it leaves the continuing spiral of the sound groove and has entered the inner or terminal-Circle to which it connects, will be given a relatively quick lateral movement toward the center of the record, so that when the needle passes this point of intersection, between the spiral and circle, on the next succeeding revolution and thereafter, it will be spaced from said point of intersection, thus eliminating the objectionable clicking noise usual when the needle passes that point on all other records.

Still another object is to provide a terminal-groove, in a phonograph record, of such flat bottom contour or surface, that the relatively small area of the needle point need not track in one path, but will have a plurality of paths to wear down before breaking through the surface glaze and so spoiling the record.

Finally, an object is to provide a terminal-groove having a buttress inner-wall. for the purpose of preventing the needle from jumping` out of the groove, and inwardly, on` to the label or its adjacent surface.

To the above ends, the present invention consists of a record for sound reproduction having a section adapted to be engaged by a movable Stylus and provided with sound reproducing means, and a Combined stopactuating and silent-groove-ending section adapted to receive the stylus after it passes from the first section, .the stop-actuating silent-groove-ending section defining the limits of movement of the stylus within which limits the stylus is operative to actuatean automatic stop device; and it further consists of the devices and combinations of devices which will be hereinafter described and claine'd.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a disc record embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 in Fig.,..1.- p

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1. f

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4- 4 of Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a slightly modified form, a portion of the record being broken away. j

Fig. 6l is a section on the line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a section on Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a portion of a disc record illustrating another modification.

the line 8 8 in Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a disc record illustrating another modification.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line 11 11 in *ig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 in Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of a. portion of a disc record illustrating another modification.

Fig. 14 is a section on the line 14-14 in Fig. 13.

Similar reference characters Will be employed to designate corresponding parts.

In the drawings. I have illustrated my invention as applied to a disc record 1 having the usual grooved `surface 2 Constituting the sound reproducing surface, and as is well known to those skilled in this art` is in the form of grooves into Which the point of the needle or stylus carried by the tonearm of a phonograph is adapted to be engaged. and as such grooved lines are formed spirally, the rotation of the record 1 causes the needle or Stylus and the tone-arm to I.frradually move from the outer periphery of the section 2 to the inner periphery thereof.

`This Operation is well understood by those skilled in this art andr need not be further set forth.

In' all of the records illustrated no matter what may be the Width of the reproducing section 2, it is intended that there shall be a stop actuating groove 3 positioned at the same point with relation to the central spindle Opening 4. This groove is similar in everv record and as shown` it is provided with a beveled surface 5 which leads in from the upper surface 6 of the record to a shoulder 7, which has a predetermined position` the same in all records. The shoulder 7 preferably defines the area of the central section'S of the records. Usually the central section 8 is provided with a label 9 on which appears asuitable legend giving the name of the manufacturer and other information. The stop actuating` groove 3 is a circular endless groove. but at some point in its circumferences. it is provided With an entrance 10 whereby the stylus may pass into the said groove. As soon as the Stylus or needle thus passes into the actuating groove 3 and assuming that the automatic stop operated by the tone-arm has been properly set, the inclined surface 5 will impart a quick motion to the stylus and the tone-arm. the stylus moving towards the centre of the record and Will actuate the automatic stop. .hSince the Stylus moves toward the shouldcr 7 as soon as it enters `groove it will not hit the point of intersection between the spiral and actuating grooves on succeeding revolutions of the record. The actuating groove 3 which may be defined as a stop or brake actuating section, or a silent-groove-ending section may llO beofany Width and is of suhstantial Width,

. so that it may form aguide readily'discernible andv found 'for setting thejautomatic stop, or, for moving the needle an appreci- Vable distance inwardly away from the point of intersection between the spiral and the,

4circle. For if the point of the needleon the Stylus is positionedlat any. point within the wldth of the actuating groove,.and'the surface or section, if the needle or styluslhe movedv into 'the actu'ating groove or section,-v

it will at'oncebring into Operation the automatic stop. Obviously, the actuating groove may have its ent-rance 10 p'ositioned in close' proximity to the end of the reproducing surface or section 2 and the needle or stylus directed therein from the sound producng groove, but the actuating groove 3 may be made relatively narrow as shown and a leading-in groove 11- provided to engage the needle or stylus as it. leaves the sound producing groove and quicklyl lead it through the Opening 10 intothe actuating groove In Fig. 1 this leading-in groove 11 is shown as a relatively quick acting hook or horn which connects with the sound producing` groovesat 12 and quickly leads the. needle into 'groove 3 through the Opening l 10. In F ig. 5 the sound producing section flo of the actuatmg groove 'leading-in groove 11.

.2 is rela'tvely narrower than that shownin Fig. 1 and .consequently the leading-in groove 11 will he a somewhat longer spiral hook or' horn which at its outer end may he connected by a line or groove 13 In Fig. 9 means for leading the needle or Stylus into the actuating groove 3 may he, as shown, a spiral groove 14 leading atA 15 from the sound producing section 2 in a relatively quick Spiral to the entrance 10' vIn Fig. 10 the sound producing surface is relatively wide and a Spiral groove 16 leading at 17 from thesound producing surfaceleads 'the needle into a relatively short leading-in groove 11. 'In Fig. 13 a' groove 18 connects at 19 with the sound producing'snrface and `leads the needle intolsuch a position jthat it will be engaged hythe Spiral In other words, while the .groove 18 does not connect with'the 'leading-in groove 11, yet it will. place thev point-of the needle in such position that the\ leading-in groove 11 will engage it and t-hrow vit quickly into the actuatinggroove The above remarksapply with equal force when the invention islto be used solely as a silent-groove-ending for a record.

/In operation-when used with a stopl actuating deviceall that the operatr needl With the v do to placerthe pointI of the needle at any' position' in'fthe groove 3, hold it there and set the automatic hrake for Operation at that fpoint. H'aving set the hrake, ifva locking deyice is provided it may .he lodied or if' a number of records having the present' in- 'vention areto beplayed. the. same adjustment will'atfect the operation' of the hrake in all records of this type and itl will be `unnecessary to reset the hrakn for a new obviously the actuating groove'may be of varying widths and in all cases 'of rela- 4 tl'vely large area. Having posationed the needle, and adjuaste'd the'stop orhrake, when 'the needlepasses ott 'the reproducing surface, itwill in a very 'short travel of the record be led into the actuating surface and the machine will be instantlv stopped or within a very short interval after the sound ceases. or after the needle passes ott' of the.

reproducing surface.

Itsoperation as a silent-groove-ending-is entirely automatic, the operator having nothing to do whatever. The heveled relativelywide inner-groove, heretofore referred 'to as the actuating groove,- when entered by the' needle after passing out of the. spiral groove, causes the needle to immediately slide down- Wardly and inwardlvgaway from this point of intersection, so that on each succeedinp; revolution,` purely .through the action of vgravity, .the needle point continues to feek the lower levels 'of this aetuating groove, which are spaced. from the point of ntersection, and'vthus. travels in the terminal cirele without appreciable noise, until stopped.

Moreover, with'so wide a groove, there isp a. minimum of friction, or noise-'making engagement between the needle and the wall of Jthe groove; and this appreciably reduces the unpleasantv an'd objectionable Continuous scraping sound between'needle and record: e and finally, since the bottommost parts of the groove arere'latia'fi'ely flat, the'needle has several paths to follow, which results in lessllO ened wear on any-.,one path; and this, by I prolonging the life of the terminal circle by several times, otfsets whollv, or to a large extent, its1 inereased-wear by virtue of inci'easedv use, particularly when not used inV combination with the stop-actuating device,

as here described, but solely for the function of a silent-gro'ove-ending, which is perhaps 1ts most common use.

lVhile in every .form of the device I have shown the actuatin'g groove as relatively' nar'rowI and furthermore as provided with. a leading-in groove, obviously assuming a relatively wide reproducing'surface and a relatively wide aetuating groove, the entrance leading-from the reproducing surface to the actuating groove may lead directly.

therein. z

The inner marginvof the stop actuat-in'g 75 record. Thisgis an important advantage-for O groove presents a shoulder 7 vvhieh'hs Jia'- fixed' andcpre-determined position on all the records manufactured under the present invention. This shoulder permits the setting of the stop or -brake with great ease even if the phonograph should be used. in a dim 'light or in the dark, for it is easy to locate -the proper positionfor the stylus to aetuate the brake or lstop by bringing the Stylus-into contact with the shoulder 7, then moving 1t a slight distance away` from t esame, and

`then settingl the stop or brake. 'The shoulder has the additional functioman'd a. most important one, of preventing the needle from jumping out of the groove, and inwardly on to the label or its adjac'ent surface, so acting as a safety measure against the mutilation of the label, for instanc;I

VVhile there has been desc'bcd and illustrated a particular embodiment of the invention, it is of course-to be understood thatthe invention is not limited thereto, but comprehends anything and everything coming within the appended claims, and other modifications,l details, and uses,` Which this disclosure might suggest to those skilled in the f art, being considered a part of this inven- `with rcspect to the plane ofV the) record whercby it serves to give the stylus a rapid radial movement.

2. A' record for sound reproduction, having asection adaptcd to be engaged by a movable -stylus and provided With sound reproducing groove, and a section adapted to receive the stylusfroni saidfirst section and having means for operating the Stylus to` actuate an automatic stop dcvice, the said. secondsection having a predeterniined vposition with respect to said record, said means of. said second section including an inclincd surface and a marginal shoulder.

Ina record for sound reproduction, a section thcrcof adaptcd to receive a'movable Stylus and having predctermincd limits, within which limits thc Stylus isoPeratiVe t'ofactuate an antomaticstop de'vice, said section having 'the bottom .thereof inclined with respectvto the plane of the record whereby'it serves -to give'thefstylus a rapid radial movement, and a cireular sto or shonlder adjoining the inner edge o the v`lstop actuating section.

4. .A phonograph record having a termina-l cireular groove, a leading-in groove connecting it with the sound-recording grooves, the terminal groove being designed toreceive and carry the needles at the end of the record, and including means to prevent the ncedle from Contacting with the end of .the e leading-in groove as the record is revolved.

5.V`A -phonograph record havingv a. terminal cireularL groove, a leading-in groove connecting the terminal groove and sound grooves, said terminal groove provided with an inclined wall whereby the needle upon Ventering theiterlninal groove will move down said wall to a-position where it cannot 7contact with the end vof the Connecting groove .as therecord is revolved.

piercing said Sloping Wall and connected with the record grooves. v I

'8. As a' new article of manufacture, a phonograph record having a silent ending, said record having a terminal groove of greater'width than its sound grooves, and having a leading-in groove extending Vfrom the valley of the last sound groove into the terminal groove.

9. As a new article of manufactui'e, aphonograph record having a terminal groove of great relative Width to reduce the frietional contact with' the needle and its con'- sequent noise, said groove being connected with. the sound. grooves by a .leading-in groove extendingr from the valley of the last sound groove.

Signed at New York, in the county and State of New York, this QSth day of April,

lVALTER C. HADLEY. 

